Smartphone and Tablet Integration:

There is a wide range of integration plans for smartphones and tablets. From porting your iPhones music and games, to snapping your tablet into the dash to work with your car, users will soon be able to snap their device into the dashboard and unlock a wide range of features. Mercedes and Ford are only two of the manufacturers that are looking for better ways to integrate your mobile devices into your driving experience.

In-car Social Media:

With Facebook being used by millions, it is only expected that it would make its way into your car. An in-car version of Facebook is being developed for Mercedes that will allow you to update your status with prewritten text. If you use your navigation system to enter your destination, you can even post it as your status with an estimated time of arrival. Now your Facebook followers will know where you are going whenever you want them to. You will also be able to see what services and businesses your friends have “Liked” that are near you.

Cloud Connection:

Ford has spent a lot of time and research in creating a cloud connected car, the EVOS. This car will be able to connect to the cloud service and download your driving preferences. From destinations to temperature control and even what type of music you prefer will be sent to your car so it can prepare for you. One of the main focuses for this technology is for rental cars that will be able to get your cloud information and make your rental experience more personalized. Next time you travel and rent a car, it may just prepare the cab at the right temperature and put on your favorite song.

Car Conversations:

Inspired by the iPhones Siri service, your car will soon be able to have a conversation with you. Not only will it be able to respond to an array of voice commands, it will be able to read your favorite news reports to you, reroute your trip based on traffic conditions and weather, and even act as your personal assistant. In the near future, these commands are expected to integrate with your smartphone so it reflects any changes made in your car so your schedule and information is updated on your phone.

Technology and gadgets are making driving easier and more productive. With new technology coming out each year, the future of cars that were once only a pipedream is becoming a reality. Technology today is in constant transition and from your home to your car; your life will become easier to manage, more social, and highly organized.

Writer Sandy Landsford is a financial blogger who contributes content for carinsurance.org.uk, where you can get cheap quotes for car insurance in your area.

They are hoping that keeping maps as up to date as possible will put an end to blunders that see HGV drivers wedging their vehicles between quaint houses and local shops in tiny rural lanes, and pizza delivery boys taking wrong turns on to train lines.

The news has received a positive reaction from all sides; it makes better commercial sense for sat nav companies, will save the Highways Authority money and it will certainly make the end-user’s life much easier.

However, it isn’t always a lack of updated maps that leads to comical route-finding blunders; all too often, human error is to blame.

Just look at the pair of Swedish tourists who mistakenly selected ‘Carpi’ as their destination, when they were actually hoping to visit Capri. It was only when they stopped at a tourist information point to ask about local sightseeing that they realised their mistake. Or,

the Syrian lorry driver aiming for Gibraltar who ended up at Skegness’s Gibraltar point nature reserve, around 1600 miles off course;
the taxi driver asked to transport Earl Spencer’s daughter to Stamford Bridge for Chelsea v Arsenal, who mistakenly selected the picturesque Yorkshire village bearing the same name as his destination and proceeded to drive there, royal cargo and all;
the Christmas shoppers headed to Lille in France, whose coach driver selected the town’s Belgian namesake, losing them 4 hours of vital shopping time in the process.

Whether human error or a lack of updated mapping systems is the cause of a route-gone-wrong, the DfT’s initiative is sure to benefit everyone involved in the sat nav market.

The Sat Nav Company is a leading supplier of GPS Sat Nav systems for trucks, cars, caravans and camper vans.

To put car depreciation into more perspective, let’s take a look at new model prices and what their value would look like down the road.

Let’s say you have a brand new 2013 SUV you managed to snag for $32,500. It’s just the base model without many bells and whistles.

After 1 year of ownership, that SUV would be worth $27, 625.
After 2 years of ownership, the SUV might have value around $23, 502.
After 3 years of ownership, the value might hover somewhere around $20,280.

**To see more examples of depreciation estimates, there’s a handful of calculators out there that pull statistics such as years owned, number of years owned prior to purchase, etc.**

You can see where the trend goes, which is why some car buyers typically look for used car deals if it best suits them for now and later on down the road. Depreciated value can also lend itself towards leased out vehicles that usually will have restricted mileage under the 30K mark. A dealership would almost certainly put that vehicle on their lot, tag it with a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) label and get good value for their dollar as well as benefit the buyer in the process.

How a CPO car benefits consumers comes from a number of reasons. As long as the car meets the standards, a CPO vehicle offers drivers peace of mind through extended warranties, very thorough inspections of all major working parts in the car, and in most cases, fix older parts that have exceeded certain wear-and-tear percentages. For instance, a dealer might replace certain tires if the treads have worn down beyond 40% of its original makeup. Same could go for brake pads, windshield wipers and other car accessories.

Essentially, a CPO vehicle pulls from the best of both worlds with new and used car characteristics. It may benefit from a short-term warranty for driver assurance, offer very respectable mileage marks from the onset and sort of fill in the gray area between new and used cars. Although, regardless of whether a buyer purchases a new or used vehicle, the car depreciation is still in play for both sides. Which is why it’s generally a good idea for buyers to do as much research through Kelley’s Blue Book estimates on certain makes and models, figure out which manufacturer tends to have more long-term value over others and so forth.

About The Author: Kyle is a freelance journalist who writes on the automotive field covering various topics such as car estimates, model comparisons, auto maintenance tips and contributes for a local dealer, Cable-Dahmer, and other related companies.

1. Canada: Icefields Parkway
The Canadian wilderness is one of the very best in the world. Nowhere can you experience it as well as while driving through the 142 miles (230km) of the Icefields Parkway. Drive right into the heart of the Canadian Rockies, cutting through Banff National Park to take pictures of the amazing emerald lakes, flowered valleys and snow-capped peaks.

2. Italy: Stelvio Pass
The Stelvio Pass Road with its sixty breakneck hairpin curves is considered the most challenging road for motorists. The road is constructed on a pass that’s at a height of 9045 feet, the second highest pass in the Alps. The motorist’s reward is miles and miles of dazzling alpine flora on rugged peaks.

3. Austria: Grossglockner High Alpine Road
This road was made for fast cars and bikes, careening around numerous scenic hairpin bends on a 48 kilometer stretch. At the end of the road you are rewarded with a fabulous view of Austria’s highest mountain – the Grossglockner. Standing at a height of 12460ft/3,798m, this mountain is topped by a glacier, the Pasterze.

4. Maui: Hana Highway
The Hana Highway spans 38 miles along Pauwela, Maui to Hana, Hawaii. Motorists can drive through deep jungle valleys along the rugged Pacific coastline, peppered with 54 single lane bridges, several roadside waterfalls and amazingly scenic hairpin turns.

5. China: The Guoliang Tunnel Road
This 1200 meter long, 5 meter high and 4 meter wide tunnel road was carved out of the Taihing Mountains in the Hunan province. It took a remarkable 5 years for a mere 13 villagers to build this road. This road is a not-to-miss tourist destination for its remarkable construction and beauty.

6. USA: The Overseas Highway
The Overseas Highway spans 42 bridges as it leaps southwest from island to island in the Florida Keys. The highway is built over water, which means beautiful oceanic views along with mind-blowing sunrises and sunsets.

7. France: Combe Laval Road
This is the most spectacular road in the French Alps, built in 1897. The road climbs steeply and there are jaw-dropping views of the Vercors region on both sides.

8. USA: Red Rock Scenic Road
Winding through Sedona’s Red Rock Country, this road follows a fabulous display of stunning red rocks. When you get tired, stop at the Coconino National Forest or the Montezuma Castle National Monument for a beautiful connection with nature.

9. Norway – Trollstigen Road
Trollstigen means Troll Ladder in English. Trollstigen comprises a series of breathtakingly beautiful roads spiced by a few waterfalls. The road is steep, with a 9% gradient. The 11 hairpin turns make the road a real challenge too, but the 320 m Stigfossen waterfall is a worthy prize at the end of this road.

10. UAE: The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road
Within 7.3 miles, you’ll find no less than 60 turns on this road, climbing up the mountain of a height of 1,219 meters. As you climb the mountain on this sweeping majestic road, you’re rewarded by amazing views of the beautiful red desert below.

11. Romania: Transfagarasan
This road that connects Transylvania and Wallachia is nothing but 90 kilometers of twists and turns through high mountain peaks. The Balea Glacier Lake is located at the top of the mountain, which you’ll see when you get out of the 1 km tunnel through mountain top.

12. USA: The Kancamagus Scenic Highway
This road takes you through New Hampshire’s White Mountains, spanning 35 miles from Lincoln to Conway. The route is peppered with beautiful mountain overlooks, a photographer’s delight. This route is also a tutorial on America’s colonial history.

13. USA: The Blue Ridge Parkway
All 469 miles of this wonderfully scenic road is filled with various woodland animals. All the way from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, you will be busy taking pictures of wildlife and amazing sceneries through the mountains.

14. USA: Pacific Coast Highway
Highway 1 stretches from San Francisco to Santa Barbara for 332 miles. You get fabulous views of large expanses of the Pacific Ocean, and the mountains that come up from it. A number of tourist destinations lay along the way such as Malibu Canyon Road and Sunset Blvd.

15. Switzerland: San Bernardino Pass
One of the world’s greatest, most beautiful roads is the San Bernardino across the Swiss Alps. It connects the Swiss towns Misox and Hinterrhein. Located at a height of 2,065 meters, the pass has smooth roads, tons of hairpin bends and fabulous views. The bonus point is the 6.6 km long tunnel through which you have to pass.

Guest Author: Alicia is a writer with a keen interest in travel and adrenaline filled experiences. She’s written hundreds of posts on topics like V8 race car driving and hot air ballooning.

We’ve come a long way, but where is in-car technology going? What’s the future?

Of course, it’s unsurprising to see these advances in in-car technology. We’re a society with a definite predilection for gadgets. We demand more. And we want it all now. Technology has become a necessity… so let’s look where we are up to and what we can expect to feature soon.

The most impressive new technologies in mainstream cars currently have actually been around for a few years. Cars like the Mercedes S-Class have always been the standard-bearers for innovative technology in cars and after a few years the tech filters down to hatchback and mass-market cars. An example of this would be the ‘self-park’ feature that has recently been seen in the Ford Focus. This clever bit of tech effectively parallel parks the car for you and is now available on several mainstream cars.

While that tech is all well and good, we want stuff that keeps us entertained and impressed whilst we’re on the road. One excellent bit of kit that is beginning to take over is the in-car entertainment systems like i-Drive and MySync. These integrated systems handle everything from music, phone calls and navigation on a handy, colour-screen.

As exciting as the aforementioned in-car tech is, the future of your car’s electrical innards will focus primarily on the environment. The emphasis on the ‘green’ movement has finally taken a huge step forward in the automotive world and we’re beginning to see exactly what technology can do to help lower our emissions and reduce the impact our vehicles have on the local flora and fauna.

We’ve seen some in-car technology for green-lovers with cars like the Honda CRZ which uses a panel with three buttons, each designed to put the engine into a certain mode. For the days you take your step-mother to church, there’s the ‘Normal’ mode; for the days you take your grandmother to the shops, there’s the ‘Eco’ mode; and for the days when you are finally alone in the car, there’s the ‘Sport’ mode.

Although it’s exciting times with the in-built systems, which take care of everything from hands-free messaging to Google Maps navigation, that won’t be the end for screen technology. As seen in the new Range Rover, clever new technology means one screen in the car’s centre-console can now display two-images – one for the driver, one for the passenger; which, in effect, allows the driver to view satellite-navigation, while the passenger watches a film. It’s one of the more likely in-car technologies that we’ll see integrated into less expensive cars in the coming years.

And if you couple that with our continued love affair with adding more and more to our cars, it looks as if the future is looking bright for gadget-lovers and petrol-heads everywhere. Sure, not all the in-car technology is going to be so exciting, but if it helps cut our emissions, keep us safer and entertains can we really moan too much?

When they’re not pondering the future of in-car technology, the team at Vroomvroomvroom.co.uk provide quality car hire in London and around the UK.

Toyota Celica

The Celica was first introduced in 1970. The small two door sporty coupe went through several changes throughout its lifespan. A convertible version was introduced in 1996. In the last incarnation of the Celica, Toyota offered buyers either a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine with 140 horsepower or a 1.8-liter engine with variable valve timing and 180 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and disc brakes were offered as options.

Toyota Supra

What started out as a special version of the Celica, evolved into Toyota’s flagship two-door sports car and one of the most admired cars among sports car enthusiasts before its production stopped in 1998. When the Supra first came onto the scene in 1979, it was offered as a high-performance version of the Celica. In 1986, the Supra broke away from the Celica and became its own separate model. The last-generation Supra, which was produced from 1993 to 1998 packed a punch. Under the hood, buyers had a choice between a 3.0-liter 24 valve inline-six engine that packed 220 horsepower and 215-pound feet of torque, or a 3.0-liter 24 valve turbocharged inline-six engine with 320 horsepower and 315-pound feet of torque. The Supra rocketed from zero to 60 miles per hour in about five seconds. The engines were paired with either automatic or manual transmissions.

Toyota MR2

The MR2 was a two seater, mid-engine compact sports car. It was introduced in 1984 and discontinued in 1995 for U.S. customers. Production of the MR2 continued outside the United States until 2007. The last-generation MR2 came with a standard 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that had 130 horsepower. The optional engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower. The standard MR2 model came with either an automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged version was only offered with manual transmission. Zero to 60 miles per hour track times were clocked at eight seconds in the standard model and seven seconds in the turbo.

Costs

It is often an awkward question to ask, but you really need to make sure that you are aware of their pricing structure before you agree to book in with them. If they are vague about their pricing this is usually an indication that they are not competitively priced, making it worthwhile to shop around a bit more to get some honest and upfront prices.

Communication

You need to know that the garage you choose will communicate with you throughout the day should any issues come up. Getting your car serviced can be a worrying time especially if the vehicle is a few years old; any garage you choose should understand the importance of letting you know what exactly is happening with regards to any repairs or replacements necessary before the work begins.

Experience

Not only is it beneficial to find out how long the garage has been trading for, it is also advisable to find out how long the mechanics have been working in the industry for. If you have an unusual vehicle it is also beneficial to ask them if they have carried out a service on your particular make and model before, this will help to ensure that the quality is exactly as it should be.

Ease

Busy lives can often leave little time for anything else, therefore ease is a really important aspect when it comes to booking your car in for a service. There are companies available that can source a reputable and affordable garage on your behalf, even sorting a collection and drop off service so you needn’t waste part of your busy day driving to and from the garage.

Make sure you take the time to find a garage with upfront costs, relevant experience and honest communication to significantly increase the likelihood of a great quality car service at an affordable cost.

Sophie works out of town therefore relies on a company that can take the hassle out of car servicing through finding a reputable garage and organising a suitable time to collect and drop off her car.

Sadly, you can’t rely on others being sensible even in fog. There will still be those who drive on sidelights or no lights at all, who drive too fast and stop in stupid places. All you can do is give yourself more time to avoid them and drive in a way that reduces the risk to you both if the worst happens.

Lights

Lights are essential in fog. They do not help you see further but they enable other people to see you. However, they must be used correctly, especially at night, or they will cause problems for you and other road users.

You must use headlights as soon as visibility is affected. However, at night in anything thicker than light mist it is likely that beam headlights will restrict your vision rather than enhance it because the light scatters back from the water droplets in the air. Just flick them on and see if you can see further with or without them.

Front fog lamps are less likely to cause problems and help make your vehicle clearly visible without causing glare. If you are buying them as an accessory, do not confuse them with auxiliary driving lamps, which are designed to augment beam headlights. Fog lamps emit a thin, fan-shaped beam, spreading light out to the sides of the car, not vertically. They help you to position yourself in the road in fog, especially at night, by lighting up kerbs and lane markings. They can also help you to find your drive or side turning in thick night-time fog. In some countries they can be used alone at night in fog, because they create less scatter back than headlights, but in the UK you are required by law to use headlights, too. On most cars they will only come on with the headlights and many cars have switches that bring on front fog lamps first then rear fog lamps.

With the abuse of rear fog lamps so common, if you find yourself at the back of a queue of stationary traffic on a fast road in fog it is even more wise than on a clear day to use hazard warning lights in case someone mistakes the brake lights for fog lamps on moving cars.

Bio – Author Ruth Rogers writes a lot of different articles on the danger signs to be aware of while driving.

1 – Financial Caution and Planning

Before making any expensive purchase, you need to spend a lot of time going over your financial records, and particularly your credit history. A poor record of borrowing and paying back loans will work against you when trying to buy a car. Moreover, think about your whole budget for the year, and whether a car purchase will require cutting back on other payments. Make sure that you have all of these documents prepared before going to a dealer, and seek advice from the bank or a financial advisor if necessary.

2 – Hire Purchase Negotiations

It is still usually a good idea to speak to a local car dealership about the best hire purchase options they can offer before making a decision. One of the advantages of going with a dealer payment scheme over a bank loan will be that they often provide 0% financing on long term monthly instalments. This will tie you to a long contract, but can reduce overall inflation on payments. When thinking about taking out a loan, compare as many different quotes as possible, and refer back to your credit rating to see if you are eligible for them.

3 – Getting the Right Insurance

You can cut costs on buying insurance for a new car by thinking about the kind of package you need. Most providers will offer basic road risk, as well as public liability for any accidents involving third parties. Savings can often be made by taking out comprehensive cover. Try not to pay for any additional policies that will raise your premium, and make sure that there are benefits in place like no claims bonuses.

4 – Go Second Hand and Online

You can save money by going through a second hand dealer, or by looking for a car online. This approach always benefits from asking for advice from a knowledgeable friend, so check to see if you are getting the best value for money when buying through a dealer, or an individual seller. Fully inspect the car to ensure that it meets all MOT and mileage requirements.

5 – Think Long Term

It may be difficult to view as a money saving option, but spending more at the purchase stage on a hybrid engine car can generate long term savings on fuel economy. Hybrid engines use a mixture of electrical and petrol engines, and generally tend to be more economical over long distances. Again, think about the kind of driving you will be doing, and whether you feel that the risk on petrol savings are worth it. Eco friendly cars are also eligible in some cases for exemptions from paying road tax.

Guest Post Author – Helena Malawi – I am a specialist in anything vehicle related from car insurance, car warranties and Car Finance Deals

3. Number 3 is the new more comfortable seats. Whether a good idea to buy them is depends on how much time you spend on average in your car. If it’s more than 7-10 hours per week then you have for sure to think about it. Generally the car seats are as the important as the comfort of your shoes. If they are not the right shape this may lead to injuries and pain after a while. Even most modern ones may have this effect as they are produced for an average person measures. Of course, it’s possible to customize the height, the angel and so on but the results are not the same. Try professional driving seats and you will soon realize how better they are.

2. Very few people think about the security of their car as you have insurance. However if you have paid 50 000 USD for the car that is now 4 years old and its stolen then you probably will get around 20 000 USD. So you see that this deal is not so good. On other side if you equipped your car with new modern GPS security tracking device then the chance of your car being stolen and then found rises significantly. Furthermore, if you install such tracking tool then your insurance costs should drop. Think about this GPS system as a investment as it is really good deal. One of the best at the moment for luxury cars is CobraTrack but of course there are plenty of options and you should find the one that will be most suitable for your car. Recently a 150 000 USD worth Audi R8 was stolen in Paris, France and found in Athens, Greece with such security tracking device.

1. My favorite gadget that you may add to your car is the AiDA- Affective Intelligent Agent Driving. It’s a robotic friend that will assist you trough your way. It’s able to find on internet and other medias the latest reports about the traffic conditions around your location and then to understand them and choose the fastest and easiest way for you. It was developed in the MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the assistance of Volkswagen. Another great thing about this gadget is that it’s programmed to act like a friend. And it really succeeds. For example, when you are angry it will smile and try to cheer up with some nice speech. If you are driving a long time it will ask you how you fee, why not to stop and take a break. All this talking is very nice and not irritating at all. Moreover, this guarantees that you won’t fall asleep while driving. I believe that this assistance is both useful and very cool and so it deserves to be the best one at the moment.